The purpose of this study is to evaluate the first web-based cessation program developed expressly for people living with HIV who smoke tobacco. Main study goals are (1) to evaluate the website's feasibility (i.e., recruitment, adherence, retention, and satisfaction) and (2) to complete a prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of the online program to standard care with a primary outcome of 3 month point-prevalence abstinence.

The proportion of each group achieving 24-hour point prevalence abstinence at Visit 3 (i.e., abstinence on or around Day 121 - 3 months post-Quit Day in the Intervention condition) by exhaled carbon monoxide, an accepted method for biochemical validation of abstinence.

Intervention feasibility will be assessed using variables such as total # of logins, # of sessions viewed, # of web pages viewed, # of mouse clicks on interactive features, total time logged on to the site (automatic logoff occurs after 30 minutes of inactivity), proportion completing the final study visit, program satisfaction survey results, and total # of reminder phone calls/texts placed by clinic staff.

Validated measures will be used to collect data on continuous abstinence, number of quit attempts, and current daily cigarette consumption. Composite quit indices will be analyzed, especially the combination of 3 month continuous abstinence with expired carbon monoxide (ECO) confirmation. We will also analyze results of validated measures that have known associations with cessation outcomes (tobacco knowledge, depression, anxiety, motivation to quit, self-concept, perceived risks/benefits, self-efficacy, and decisional balance).

This group will be asked to participate in the online quit smoking program. At their first visit, they will be given an ID number to log in to the quit smoking program, and they will complete their first log in with the research assistant. The online program is made up of 8 separate online sessions that are supposed to be completed approximately once per week. Each sessions is written to take an average reader 15-30 minutes to complete. The entire program is meant to be completed in 7 weeks. At the first visit, participants are asked to provide an email address and/or cell phone number so reminders can be sent, by email or text message, to complete the sessions. If participants are late completing a session, they may receive call from clinic staff as a reminder.

Behavioral: Web-Based Tailored Smoking Cessation Intervention

The Experimental group will be given an ID number to log in to the quit smoking program, and complete their first log-in with a research assistant. The online program is made up of 8 separate, weekly online sessions that take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. The entire program is meant to be completed in 7 weeks. Participants are asked to provide an email address and/or cell phone number so reminders can be sent to complete the sessions. If participants are late completing a session, they will receive a call from clinic staff as a reminder. The "standard care" group will receive advice to quit, a quit-smoking brochure, and an offer of three months of nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches).

Other Names:

Tailored Cessation

Web-Based Intervention

Web-Based Cessation

Active Comparator: Standard Care

This group will receive "standard care" for their smoking, including advice to quit, a quit-smoking brochure, and an offer of three months of nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches).

Behavioral: Web-Based Tailored Smoking Cessation Intervention

The Experimental group will be given an ID number to log in to the quit smoking program, and complete their first log-in with a research assistant. The online program is made up of 8 separate, weekly online sessions that take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. The entire program is meant to be completed in 7 weeks. Participants are asked to provide an email address and/or cell phone number so reminders can be sent to complete the sessions. If participants are late completing a session, they will receive a call from clinic staff as a reminder. The "standard care" group will receive advice to quit, a quit-smoking brochure, and an offer of three months of nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches).

Other Names:

Tailored Cessation

Web-Based Intervention

Web-Based Cessation

Behavioral: Standard of Care

advice to quit, a quit-smoking brochure, and an offer of three months of nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches).

Detailed Description:

Positively Smoke Free on the Web is the first web-based cessation program developed expressly for people living with HIV (PLWH) who smoke tobacco. It is a resource that is ready for clinical use, but its feasibility and efficacy have yet to be studied. Main study goals are (1) to evaluate the website's feasibility (i.e., recruitment, adherence, retention, and satisfaction) in a cohort of 69 PLWH smokers, and (2) to complete a prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of the online program to standard care (total N = 138) with a primary outcome of 3 month point-prevalence abstinence.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Laboratory confirmation of HIV infection

Montefiore Medical Center Infectious Disease Clinic patient

Current tobacco user

Affirmed motivation to quit within the next 6 months

Have home access to the Internet

Read above 4th grade level (by REALM)

Willingness to grant informed consent and undergo randomization

Exclusion Criteria:

Pregnant or breastfeeding women

People with contraindications to nicotine replacement therapy

People currently receiving other tobacco treatment

Spouses, partners, and/or roommates of current study participants

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01570595